Everyone communicates, but are they doing it well? Communicative competence takes practice and self-awareness. In this foundational course, students will learn through discovery and project-based activities to practice approaching situations critically and collaboratively. By developing their communication skills, students will improve their interpersonal ability, intercultural competence, and digital fluency to prepare for success in the workplace and beyond. The strategies students will gain in this course will be useful throughout their program and in their chosen industry.
This course explores reading for comprehension, written and presentation communication skills. Students practice academic and objective writing. Students examine the research process for academic and practical purposes, proper referencing methods, and literature review techniques.
Students will continue to develop essential communication skills necessary in the field of human services in order to better understand how and why we communicate with each other. Students will work to improve their skills to support others using effective communication. Students will be introduced to the helping relationship using key aspects of psychology and to an in-depth exploration of communication styles, within various forms of relationships. Interpersonal communication with respect to cross-cultural, Indigenous and diverse perspectives is examined.
Students will explore the role of work as well as the range of vocational options currently available to people with disabilities. Supported Employment, will be a major focus, with the student learning about the process, strategies, values, key concepts, marketing approaches and trends related to the supported employment model.
Students will be introduced to the role that values and attitudes play in the development of services and support for people with disabilities. The history of North American disability services and support (1800s – present) is presented, including the implications of institutionalization, eugenics. In addition, students will explore current topics that potentially have a heightened effect on individuals who have a disability.
This course provides students with an introduction to various disabilities and the implications for supporting people in their daily lives. Students will explore the etiology, diagnoses and characteristics associated with a variety of disabilities as well as current support strategies. By the end of this course, students will have increased awareness of local supports and services available.
In this course students will explore the context of behavioural difficulties and articulate the underlying conflicts that may lead persons with disabilities to demonstrate complex behaviour. Students will practice a variety of approaches when supporting a person. Students will also focus on self-care for the Direct Support Professional (DSP) and develop individualized wellness strategies.
In this course students will learn various strategies for supporting people with disabilities in learning new tasks, pursuing their goals, and increasing independence in employment, residential, and community settings. Students will review current approaches to planning for learners and will put into practice the concepts, considerations, approaches and methods of effective individualized teaching.
Students will be introduced to a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems (AAC). Students will explore essential concepts, information, resources, and practices necessary to support the right of all individuals to communicate.
This course provides students with an introduction to various mental health conditions and the implications for supporting people in their daily lives. Students will learn about how persons with intellectual disabilities are affected by mental health conditions (dual diagnosis) and explore possible treatment/prevention and current support strategies. By the end of this course, students will have increased awareness of strategies for promoting positive mental health as well as knowledge of local supports and services.
This course will acquaint students with the Manitoba education system and will provide strategies for supporting children and youth in an inclusive education environment. The evolution of special education services, the range of existing educational opportunities and the role of an educational assistant will be explored. This learning will be reinforced by completing the education-based practicum as part of the Disability and Community Support Program.
Students will explore and apply the values, principles, and practices of person-centered planning using tools such as PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) and MAP (Making Action Plans). Students will describe how these tools increase the possibility of community inclusion, personal empowerment, and individual development for persons with disabilities. Students will also review current planning practices in Manitoba and the requirement to do planning as outlined in the Vulnerable Person’s Act.
This course prepares students for meaningful work, by providing them with information and techniques to engage effectively in collaborative and dynamic human service settings. Students will develop skills aimed at increasing their confidence and ability to contribute to a team environment. The concept of ‘leadership at all levels’ is woven through the topics, with emphasis on self-awareness, constructive communication and team building.
This course introduces students to the design and delivery of human services in the field of community living support. Students will become familiar with conceptual frameworks used to develop and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a community living service. Students will practice informal evaluation for the purpose of service enhancement, using frameworks such as Social Role Valorization and Person Centred Approach, including Empowerment, Self-Determination, and Personal Outcome Measures.
Students will practice a variety of strategies that will assist people with disabilities to incorporate literacy into their everyday life experiences. Students will prepare and deliver individualized literacy plans through tutoring an adult learner with a disability in the areas of reading, writing, and numeracy. By the end of this course, students will better understand the impact of low literacy as well as the characteristics of effective tutor/learner relationships.
Students will identify and implement teaching strategies to encourage healthy attitudes towards sexuality and relationships for and with people who have disabilities. Areas of specific focus include sexual diversity, self-esteem, self-care, choice-making in intimate relationships, as well as the prevention of sexual abuse and sexually transmitted diseases.
Students will be introduced to the concept of advocacy and various forms of advocacy. Students will examine the concept of rights and protections for people with disabilities. This course develops awareness needed to respond to, support and practice advocacy related to issues impacting people with disabilities.
Students will identify the competencies required to facilitate and support the meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities into the community. They will examine the concepts of integration and community, as well as learn a variety of strategies to facilitate successful community membership.
This course is intended to familiarize students with some of the current issues facing Indigenous children, youth and families in Manitoba. The themes of historical context and cultural humility in helping skills are the foundational theories. We will work toward embracing an Indigenous worldview in our practice and develop culturally respectful anti-oppressive child and youth care practice. Topics in the course include the impact of colonization and residential schools, the child welfare system, past and present, racism and prejudice and individual practitioner self-awareness.
Practicum-Education provides students with an opportunity to gain experience supporting children/youth in an educational setting. This practicum enables students to observe and practice the skills needed to work as an Educational Assistant in a school setting.
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